Guest Post by Andrew Sherwood, Managing Director, Stanton Chase International – New York
With a national spotlight on sexual harassment cases, inappropriate behavior at work and subsequent litigation claims, by playing Cupid at work, you could be courting behavior that may land you out of a job or out of a marriage, or even in court.
With men and women working side by side in white and blue-collar jobs, Federal Equal Employment Opportunity regulations and media coverage have triggered a growing number of formal complaints and legal actions brought against co-workers and in some cases, the company.
Sexual harassment is more than a petty offense. EEOC guidelines state that “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment, which can lead to fines, discharge and in extreme cases, jail.
Extramarital romances in the workplace are particularly dangerous and may lead to dismissal. With the lure of large settlements in some cases, affected employees sue the company for discrimination or invasion of privacy which leads to hefty legal and settlement costs. On other fronts too, these charges can be extremely difficult to explain to a spouse and can result in a marriage break up and more trouble.
Single employees also should be cautious about office romances because jobs could create a potential conflict of interest, especially when one employee reports to the other. If favoritism is suspected, unfair practice charges could be leveled by other employees who feel slighted if passed over for promotions or other perks.
Although an office relationship may eventually be broken off, this too can lead to problems, particularly if both parties continue to work together. So, regardless of the temptation, better not to indulge in the first place. In the event, however, that love prevails over judgment, at least keep it cool at work. Don’t let a romance interfere with job performance, disrupt working schedules and routines, or foster charges of special treatment. Play it safe and don’t involve your company.
About the Author
Andrew Sherwood is managing director of the New York office of Stanton Chase International. The 450-member organization conducts local, regional and international executive search campaigns for many top companies worldwide. Stanton Chase currently has 66 offices in 41 countries. There are 12 offices in North America. For more information, visit www.stantonchase.com.
